Meet our Senior Scientist: BJ Bukata, MS, PWS

December 1, 2017

“Plain and simple, I love what I do. I have led hundreds of listed wildlife species assessments or surveys and wetland delineations, and permitted over 100 projects throughout Florida with numerous regulatory agencies. In addition, I have led or overseen numerous stream condition index and water quality sampling, habitat restoration, and various research projects throughout Florida. As I always say, a bad day in the field is better than a good day in the office.” – BJ Bukata, MS, PWS

Meet BJ, our Ecology Guru. He is a Senior Scientist in our GIS/Ecology discipline. BJ has 19 years of experience in environmental sciences with a focus on wetlands and environmental permitting. He earned his Bachelor’s in Wildlife Ecology and his Master’s in Wetlands Ecology from the University of Florida.

Cool Project: It was my pleasure to coordinate and lead Florida scrub jay, eastern indigo snake, gopher tortoise, and migratory bird surveys over a one-year period for the Shiloh Environmental Impact Statement project. The Shiloh Launch Complex is a proposed commercial space launch site of approximately 200 acres in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge north of the Kennedy Space Center. Space Florida entrusted the Jones Edmunds Team to evaluate the potential environmental impacts and BJ was the right scientist for the job!

Fun Fact: I really love to surf. Surfing is hard to categorize. It’s not a hobby…I’d almost consider it a disease. It’s something that has always inspired me and helps me to foster a positive attitude. Eleven-Time Surfing World Champion Kelly Slater said it well…”It’s like the Mafia. Once you’re in-you’re in. There’s no getting out!”

Meet our Senior Scientist: BJ Bukata, MS, PWS

“Plain and simple, I love what I do. I have led hundreds of listed wildlife species assessments or surveys and wetland delineations, and permitted over 100 projects throughout Florida with numerous regulatory agencies. In addition, I have led or overseen numerous stream condition index and water quality sampling, habitat restoration, and various research projects throughout Florida. As I always say, a bad day in the field is better than a good day in the office.” – BJ Bukata, MS, PWS

Meet BJ, our Ecology Guru. He is a Senior Scientist in our GIS/Ecology discipline. BJ has 19 years of experience in environmental sciences with a focus on wetlands and environmental permitting. He earned his Bachelor’s in Wildlife Ecology and his Master’s in Wetlands Ecology from the University of Florida.

Cool Project: It was my pleasure to coordinate and lead Florida scrub jay, eastern indigo snake, gopher tortoise, and migratory bird surveys over a one-year period for the Shiloh Environmental Impact Statement project. The Shiloh Launch Complex is a proposed commercial space launch site of approximately 200 acres in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge north of the Kennedy Space Center. Space Florida entrusted the Jones Edmunds Team to evaluate the potential environmental impacts and BJ was the right scientist for the job!

Fun Fact: I really love to surf. Surfing is hard to categorize. It’s not a hobby…I’d almost consider it a disease. It’s something that has always inspired me and helps me to foster a positive attitude. Eleven-Time Surfing World Champion Kelly Slater said it well…”It’s like the Mafia. Once you’re in-you’re in. There’s no getting out!”